(1) PAST PRESIDENTS GATHER FOR PRESIDENTIAL INVESTITURE - Four of Southeastern Louisiana University’s former presidents attended the university’s Presidential Investiture on Friday to present John L. Crain, Southeastern’s 14th president, with the President’s Chain, a symbol of the authority of the position. Congratulating Crain, far right, are Clea Parker, J. Larry Crain, G. Warren Smith, and Randy Moffett, now president of the University of Louisiana System.

(2) PRESIDENT’S MEDAL WINNERS - Southeastern Louisiana University presented the President’s Awards for Excellence, the university’s highest faculty and staff honors, at the annual fall faculty/staff convocation on Friday. Southeastern President John L. Crain, far right, congratulated the recipients, from left, Michael Jones, Department of Management, teaching; Katherine Kolb, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, research; Alan Marsh, Department of English, artistic activity; Margaret Gonzalez-Perez, Department of History and Political Science, faculty service; and Barbara Hebert, director of the University Counseling Center, service by unclassified staff.

CRAIN INVESTED AS SOUTHEASTERN’S 14TH PRESIDENT John L. Crain was invested as Southeastern’s 14th president Friday morning in ceremonies held at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond. The investiture was combined with the university’s annual fall faculty/staff convocation, which precedes the start of the institution’s new academic year. Crain invoked Charles Dickens’ opening lines in “A Tale of Two Cities” -- “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” - to describe the extraordinary contradictions Southeastern and Louisiana higher education face today. At the ceremony, he was presented with Southeastern’s President’s Chain, a symbol of the authority of the position, by four of the university’s five former living presidents: Randy Moffett, now president of the University of Louisiana System, G. Warren Smith, J. Larry Crain, and Clea Parker. Also attending the event were representatives of the UL System Board of Supervisors and the Louisiana Board of Regents. Former Southeastern President and current Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen was unable to attend the investiture, but issued her congratulations to Crain. “Dr. Crain assumes the presidency of Southeastern during a transformational time for higher education, a time when we must be unrelenting in our goals of investing in quality research and producing more graduates to fill the jobs of today, and the jobs of the future,” said Clausen “His knowledge of Southeastern’s strengths, his strong relationships with faculty, and his love for students will allow him to play an important role in achieving these goals, and he will undoubtedly do it with passion, vision and ingenuity.” In his remarks, Crain noted that Southeastern “has grown and prospered, achieved great results, and been widely recognized for its successes...surely the best of times. Yet, despite this, we were recently forced to cut $10 million from our budget, and we face future budget prospects that may be even more dire... certainly the worst of times.” He emphasized that even with challenges, good things can still happen, citing the university’s recent academic and student successes, “producing record numbers of graduates who are well prepared and anxious to make their mark on the world. Even as our budget is being cut, we are attracting record numbers of well prepared new students.” Crain urged faculty, staff, students and alumni to pull together as a team and to face the challenges necessary to help the university move beyond the current financial crisis. He urged legislators and state leaders “to stand tall and defy conventional wisdom by helping to find solutions to the state’s financial challenges beyond just cutting the budget.” To higher education leaders, he asked that they champion fair and equitable funding for all institutions that successfully execute their missions. He pledged that he would continue to be honest and straightforward in communicating with the campus and community constituents. “I will continue to strive to be innovative and creative in helping to identify and implement solutions to our challenges,” Crain added. “And I will remain dogged and persistent in championing the cause of this great institution and its people.” At the convocation, Ann Nauman of the College of Education and Human Development, was named an emeritus professor of education; new faculty and staff and faculty who achieved promotions and tenure were recognized; and service awards were presented to employees who have served 25, 30 and 35 years at the university.

NEW PROFESSORSHIPS ANNOUNCED - Southeastern Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Johns-Lauderdale announced five newly endowed professorships for the university at the annual fall convocation: the Bruce Dugas Endowed Professorship in Business; Dorcas and H.N. Capron Jr. Endowed Professorship in Supply Chain Management; Joyce Junghans Endowed Professorship in Management; Knights of Babylon Endowed Professorship in Communication Sciences and Disorders; and the Viola Brown Endowed Professorship in Visual and Performing Arts. Joseph C. Wiley, far left, a member of the Louisiana Board of Regents, presents a $200,000 check representing the regents' share of the professorships to Johns-Lauderdale and President John L. Crain.

GREEN AND GOLD WEEK KICKS OFF NEW SEMESTER AT SOUTHEASTERN Southeastern is hosting a fun-filled week of activities to start a new semester, welcome students back to school and engage the community. Mayor Mayson Foster officially declared this week “Green and Gold Week” on Aug. 4 with a special proclamation ceremony at City Hall. Green and Gold Week begins today with “Wear Green-Save Green.” Local businesses will partner with Southeastern to provide discounts during the week for those who wear their green and gold. Participating merchants include LeBlanc’s Food Store and the Southeastern Bookstore. The third annual Strawberry Jam, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, will take place Aug. 18. Designed to welcome freshmen to campus and connect them with their new classmates and upperclassman, Strawberry Jam kicks off at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. At 5:30 p.m., Southeastern’s lion mascot Roomie, will lead a parade of students, marching band, cheerleaders, football players and other student-athletes from North Campus to Strawberry Stadium, where the band No Idea will perform live. “Strawberry Jam is a great tradition and a fun event for students to attend before the first day of class,” said Jennifer Paul Frederick, student organizations and strategic initiatives director. “It gives them a chance to relax and meet a lot of other students.” Students can enjoy free pizza, soft drinks and frozen treats, provided by a Tobacco Free Living grant, and games and activities. While supplies last, they will also receive free notebooks, t-shirts, and autographed football schedules signed by the players. After the event, students can enjoy a ride back to North Campus, compliments of the Lion Traxx shuttle service. Two fun activities are scheduled for Aug. 20. A “Green and Gold Garments and Garb Contest” will award prizes for the businesses and offices in the community that have the highest percentage of employees who wear green and gold to work on Thursday. Each business can submit a photo of their employees decked out in their Lion best along with the total number of employees to oeap@selu.edu. Also on tap for Aug. 20 is the Hammond Chamber luncheon. Featuring Southeastern President John L. Crain, Head Football Coach Mike Lucas, and a Lion football pep rally, the luncheon will take place on Southeastern’s campus at Twelve Oaks from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Green and Gold Week will culminate on Aug. 21 with a new “Lionpawlooza” section on the grounds of Regions Bank in downtown Hammond during Hot August Night. In addition to the traditional pep rally kickoff outside La Caretta, Southeastern will host a village of tables and tents with a Southeastern Spirit Spin give-away prize wheel, pictures with Roomie, coaches and cheerleaders, autographs by student-athletes, face painting by the Lionettes, the Southeastern Recycling project, Cub Club information and registration and more. For more information about Green and Gold Week, call 985-549-5861 or email oeap@selu.edu.

SOUTHEASTERN’S ‘LIONPAWLOOZA’ PART OF HOT AUGUST NIGHT Southeastern's traditional pep rally at downtown Hammond’s Hot August Night on Friday (August 21) will assume an expanded role with the introduction of Lionpawlooza, a celebration culminating the university’s Green and Gold Week. The pep rally, which launches the start of the Lions football season, will start at 6:30 p.m. Coaches, cheerleaders, student-athletes and Southeastern’s Spirit of the Southland Band will lead the rally on the stage of LaCaretta Restaurant. Across the street on the Regions Bank grounds, Southeastern will host a village of tables and tents until 8 p.m. featuring pictures with Roomie, autograph signing by student athletes, face painting by the Lionettes and cheerleaders and information on Cub Club, the Southeastern recycling project, Career Services, the Alumni Association and the Southeastern Development Foundation’s Project Friendship. In addition the Southeastern Bookstore will have the latest Lion gear available for purchase, and a special Southeastern Spirit Spin prize wheel guarantees a price to anyone who takes a spin. Free product samples from Coca-Cola will also be available.

SOUTHEASTERN KICKOFF SCRAMBLE SET FOR AUGUST 28

Southeastern Louisiana University’s Lion Athletic Association will host its fifth annual Kickoff Scramble, benefiting Southeastern Athletics, on Friday, Aug. 28 at Carter Plantation in Springfield. Registration for the scramble will begin at 11 a.m. with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. A tournament entry fee of $150 will cover lunch, dinner, golf cart, greens fees, a logo golf shirt, golf cap and golf balls. All proceeds will help support Southeastern Athletics and its 15 Division I programs.

A host of coaches and administrative staff will be on hand to welcome participants and provide a preview of the upcoming 2009-10 year.

For more information, contact Interim Director of Athletics Tim Baldwin at (985) 549-5186 or tbaldwin@selu.edu.

SOUTHEASTERN ACCOUNTING PROFESSOR SERVES AS FACULTY IN RESIDENCE WITH FBI

What started as an inquiry to an FBI Special Agent who had lectured in his class soon led to a full time sabbatical with the agency last spring for a Southeastern accounting professor. Pierre Titard, Southeastern’s Phil K. Livingston Professor of Accounting, is apparently the first member of a university faculty to serve a sabbatical with the FBI. After the agent had spoken to his class, Titard outlined a proposal showing how a sabbatical with the FBI would benefit both the agency and the university. “I was interested in providing a public service to the extent my knowledge and abilities allowed,” said Titard, a resident of Denham Springs. Since this had not been done before, approval was required, not only by the New Orleans office, but also by FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. He underwent an extensive background investigation in order to qualify for a security clearance that would allow him access to the files and databases with which he would be working. While serving in the New Orleans branch, Titard developed an innovative process to help identify the most serious potential mortgage fraud cases. “A significant amount of my work involved mortgage fraud,” he said. “And fraud can be by the borrower, the lender, or both. In addition some mortgage fraud involves collusion among several individuals, including an appraiser, whereby an individual obtains a mortgage for substantially more than the property is worth.” Titard said he learned a lot from his experience, much of which he will be able to share with his students, especially those who may be interested in a career with the agency. “For a long time, individuals in accounting and finance have played important roles in the FBI,” said Titard, who has been on the Southeastern faculty since 2000. “Their role has always been important, but because of the publicity of many recent financial crimes, the role probably has been more public than it has in the past.” While working in the New Orleans Division, Titard became impressed with the dedication and conscientious efforts by the special agents and FBI staff in doing their everyday jobs. He said he hopes he has provided an avenue by which other faculty - from Southeastern and other institutions - will now be able to obtain this experience while lending expertise to the FBI. “The FBI provides an excellent career opportunity for business majors, either as special agents, intelligence analysts or financial analysts,” he said. “Many skills are useful in the FBI, but accounting and financial skills are particularly helpful in investigating financial crimes.”

NEW WEB SITE PROVIDES ACCESS TO LIONS GEAR The Southeastern Louisiana University bookstore, operated by Follett, has updated its Web site to allow university fans access to a greater variety of university apparel and merchandise. “The new site, www.selu.edu/liongear, provides our students and fans with a greatly enhanced mix of products that are available for purchase online,” said Robin Parker, marketing director for Southeastern Auxiliary Services.” New merchandise now available online includes auto accessories such as car flags and license plate frames, banners and flags, desk accessories, sporting goods, and a variety of other items. “With football season approaching and fans planning their tailgating and parties, we wanted to be in a position to provide as many decorative accessories and other items as possible,” Parker said.

News from the Center for Faculty Excellence:

Workshops - All workshops are held in Tinsley Hall, Room 103 unless otherwise noted. Registration is required 24 hours in advance of all workshops. Walk-ins are welcome, if space is available. Please call the Center to verify. If you have questions regarding this or would like to make a reservation, please contact the Center at ext. 5791 or email us at center@selu.edu.

Sympodium Training - Southeastern has updated more than 80 classrooms with Smarttech's Sympodium audiovisual equipment. We are offering these training sessions to prepare faculty to use the Sympodium classrooms.

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 10:00-11:30 am OR 2:00-3:30 pm

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2:00-3:30 pm

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2:00-3:30 pm

Friday, Aug. 21, 2:00-3:30 pm

Professional Activities Dr. William F. Font (Department of Biological Sciences) and Sarah Brock (Delgado Community College) have coauthored a paper entitled “Helminths of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in Bayou Traverse, Louisiana, U.S.A.”, published in the July 2009 issue of Comparative Parasitology. The publication is based upon the thesis research that Ms. Brock conducted at Southeastern with funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Southeastern Music Faculty members Paul Frechou (Associate Director of Bands), Kevin Estoque (Instructor of Percussion) and Richard Schwartz (Instructor of Saxophone and Jazz) performed July 17 and 18 at the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel with singer/recording artist Johnny Mathis. Repertoire included Angie, Misty, 99 Miles from LA, and Brazil.

An article by Dr. Joan Faust (English) appears in the summer 2009 edition of the journal Explorations in Renaissance Culture. The article, entitled “Upon Appleton House: Marvell's Creation of a Liminal Realm,” is part of a special issue on “The Social Character of Andrew Marvell’s Imagination.”

Dr. Birgitta Ramsey (English) participated in the 5th EATAW (European Assciation for the Teaching of Academic Writing) conference in Coventry, UK, June 30-July 2, 2009. The title of her presentation was "Democratic Dialogue: New Student Populations and Academic Writing."

ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@selu.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to Public Information Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.